Health condition
Growing pains vs pathology
True growing pains follow strict rules: aching in both legs, in the evening or night, with completely normal days and a well child - pain that breaks any of these rules deserves assessment rather than reassurance.
Why trust this guide
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Editorial team
Written by our editorial team from the UK sources listed on each page.
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Sourced from guidance
Checked against current NHS and UK specialist society guidance at the time of review.
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Current for 2026
Reviewed on 2026-09-27 with the next review scheduled for 2027-09-27.
Key facts
The essentials at a glance.
The symptoms to recognise, when to seek help, which specialist to see, and what treatment usually involves.
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Typical growing pains: aching shins, calves or thighs in both legs, late day or waking the child at night, settling with rubbing, in a child aged roughly 3-12 who is otherwise entirely well
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Red flags that are NOT growing pains: one-sided pain, limping, pain present in the morning, joint swelling or stiffness, fever, weight loss, night sweats, or a child who stops doing activities they enjoy
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Growing pains never cause a limp and never involve a joint
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Specialist: a consultant paediatrician or paediatric rheumatologist promptly for any red flag - blood tests and imaging are only needed when the pattern is atypical
Understanding the condition
What it is and what happens next.
What causes it, how it is diagnosed, and the treatment routes available in the UK.
What it is and how it feels
Growing pains are real, common and benign - an aching, sometimes tearful end to active days, classically soothed by massage and gone by morning - but the label is only safe when the pattern is exactly right. The pains are always in both legs (though not necessarily simultaneously), never cause limping, never affect the joints themselves, and leave the child bounding around normally by day. A parent's most useful observation is simple: what is the child like in the morning and at school?
Diagnosis and treatment routes
The conditions that must not be mislabelled include juvenile idiopathic arthritis (morning stiffness, joint swelling), infections of bone or joint (fever, refusal to bear weight - urgent), hip disorders such as Perthes disease (limp, one-sided), and rarely leukaemia or bone tumours (night pain that is one-sided or progressive, an unwell child). Assessment for any atypical feature is straightforward - examination, blood tests including a full blood count and inflammatory markers, and X-rays where indicated - and provides either an early diagnosis or solidly earned reassurance. In many parts of the UK, routine NHS referrals for this kind of problem currently take 20-45+ weeks, whereas an initial appointment with a private consultant is typically available within around two weeks.
Seeing a specialist
Who to see, and how quickly you can be seen.
The specialist for this condition is usually a consultant paediatrician or paediatric rheumatologist. Your GP can refer you on the NHS, or you can arrange a private consultation directly.
A quiet reminder
This guide is for information, not medical advice.
Your GP knows your history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If in doubt, see them - and seek urgent care for any of the emergency symptoms described above.
Frequently asked
Common questions about Growing pains vs pathology.
Quick, plain-English answers to what people ask us most.
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What are growing pains in children?
Growing pains are a common, benign cause of leg pain in children, typically affecting the shins, calves, or behind the knees, usually occurring in the evening or at night. They are not actually related to bone growth itself, despite the name, and the exact cause is not fully understood. They are one of the most common reasons for limb pain in otherwise healthy, active children.
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What causes growing pains?
The precise cause is unclear, but growing pains are thought to relate to the physical activity levels of active children, sometimes combined with joint or muscle laxity. They typically occur without any injury, swelling, or other worrying features. They tend to affect both legs and come and go rather than being constant.
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How can you tell growing pains from something more serious?
Growing pains are typically symmetrical, occur in the evening or night, do not cause limping during the day, and are not associated with swelling, redness, warmth, or systemic symptoms like fever or weight loss. Warning features suggesting a different cause include pain that is one-sided, present during the day, associated with limping, swelling, or a specific tender spot on a bone, or accompanied by fever or unexplained weight loss. Any of these warning signs should prompt medical assessment rather than assuming growing pains.
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Are growing pains dangerous?
No, growing pains themselves are harmless and children usually grow out of them by their teenage years. The main reason for care in diagnosis is to make sure a different, more serious cause of leg pain, such as an infection, inflammatory condition, or rarely a bone tumour, is not being missed. Once other causes have been excluded, growing pains can be managed simply with reassurance and comfort measures.
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How are growing pains managed?
Management is generally simple, involving reassurance, gentle massage, warmth such as a warm bath before bed, and simple pain relief like paracetamol if needed for a particularly uncomfortable night. No specific medical treatment or investigation is usually required once the pattern is recognised as typical growing pains. Most children continue their normal activities without restriction.
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Growing pains vs joint pathology — what is the difference?
Growing pains classically affect muscles rather than joints, are symmetrical, occur at night, and do not cause daytime limping or joint swelling. Joint pathology, such as juvenile arthritis or infection, more often causes joint swelling, warmth, restricted movement, or a limp that persists during the day, sometimes with fever or other systemic symptoms. A doctor’s examination, and sometimes blood tests or imaging, can help clarify the diagnosis if there is any uncertainty.
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How long do growing pains last?
Growing pains often come and go over months to a few years, typically affecting children between roughly three and twelve years old, and usually resolve by the teenage years. Individual episodes are usually brief, lasting minutes to an hour or so, and settle with reassurance and comfort measures. There is no fixed pattern, and some children have long symptom-free periods between episodes.
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When should I take my child to the doctor about leg pain?
See a doctor if leg pain is one-sided, present during the day, associated with limping, swelling, redness, or warmth, or if your child has fever, unexplained weight loss, or seems generally unwell. A private paediatric assessment can usually be arranged within about a week if you want reassurance sooner than routine NHS waiting times allow. Trust your instincts as a parent; if something feels different from typical growing pains, it is always reasonable to get it checked.